January 06, 2004
Harry Connick, Jr. is known worldwide as a musician, singer, composer, actor, and three-time Grammy award winner. At Tulane Law School, he is also known as a thoughtful son honoring his parents, both graduates of the law school. Harry (L'61) and the late Anita Connick (L'65) began their distinguished legal careers as students at Tulane Law School in the 1960s. Forty years later, son Harry Jr., wishes to celebrate those contributions to the legal community by establishing a scholarship fund in their names.
Harry F. Connick had just finished a stint in the U.S. Navy when he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a job that took him to Morocco. It was there he met his first wife, Anita Livingston.
The pair returned to New Orleans and ran a successful record store. The Connicks took turns pursuing their legal education. Harry went to law school first - while Anita minded the store. She then earned her law degree, graduating from Tulane four years later. They partnered in business yet again, opening Connick and Connick, a private law practice.
Anita Connick went on to become one of New Orleans' first female judges. In 1979, she ran for judge to fill an unexpired term on the First City Court in New Orleans. She won re-election in 1980. A year later, she lost a battle with cancer.
Harry Connick spent 29 years successfully fighting crime and serving his community as the Orleans Parish District Attorney, overseeing a prosecutor's office praised by academics for its honest and efficient approach to screening cases, the theory being that Connick's stricter screening policies resulted in fewer plea bargains and more "as charged" convictions. The screening practices employed by Connick's office were favorably reviewed in a study last year that was published as an article in the Stanford Law Review. The article has received national attention and sparked a healthy debate with significant implications for the criminal justice system. Quite a tribute for Connick, who did not run for re-election in 2002. He and wife Londa are enjoying retirement in New Orleans.
The idea for the scholarship originated from classmates of both Harry and Anita Connick. Harry Connick Jr. made the initial contribution in hopes that friends and classmates of his distinguished parents will follow suit. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made through Tulane Law School's Office of Development at 504.862.8886.